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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | This guy puts up 'Zager tuned' guitars on eBay regularly. I've PM'd him (though ebay) a couple of times about exactly what model Ovation he's peddling (pic seems to be the same every time) but he's never responded. He describes this as a "157" model, which I can't find on Ovation website. It looks kinda like a Balladeer. Can anyone pin it down for sure?
eBay item #250294831062 |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Celebrity CC157. Roundhole lam top entry level import. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Sounds dicey |
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Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Zager usually sets up bottom of the line guitars (Martin Sigma for example) to play "better" and peddles them on Ebay for more than their worth. |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | i had denny zager set up a martin OM-21 for me about 7 years ago. rather simple techniques but i was not confident in my own skills at the time. he shaved the bass side braces for better lows, widened the nut and bridge slots slightly, filed all the fretwires down to where a credit card would just slide under the strings up and down the entire fretboard and installed a martin thinline p/u.
the guitar was easily the smoothest playing acoustic i ever enjoyed. the set-up is really designed for fingerstyle only. i sold the guitar because alternate tunings wouldn't work so well on it as the slackened strings would buzz too much. for standard tuning playing, i cannot imagine an easier playing guitar. you could play the cowboy chords on the octave past the twelfth fret with no compromise in intonation. not that anyone would really want to, but that's an indicator of the playability. |
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Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I have heard NEGATIVE things about him. I'm glad it worked out for you, but I have read many bad reviews on his work, with some saying he ruined their guitars. I would think a better choice would be a reputable local luthier. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Guns, Cars, Guitars,Flame Throwers or just about anything are that way. You can set them up specifically for some things but it ruins them for other purposes.
You can have Mr. Freiling set your intonation and it will be perfect, just don't change the gage or make of your strings.
Denny Zager is/was half of Zager and Evans, ala "In the Year 2525".
Sometimes the right setup can be priceless but as Lanaki says a too close action can limit your style or approach.
I'd inquire what it takes for him to setup an instrument you already own and I also want to know if he is doing the work. |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | from what i have gathered, he no longer sets up instruments that are privately owned, but purchases lower priced guitars from factories, mostly overseas, and then resells them after he applies his set up. he did face a few legal issues three or four years ago with a few dissatisfied clients. the majority of folks are very happy with his application. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | They probably got exactly what they forgot to ask for.
Communication is important. |
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Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Wow, bidding ended at $523 and reserve was not met.
For a Celebrity.
Amazing. |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | This guy lists alot of Celebrity's for a low starting bid... Relists them a dozen times...
Then sells them for $600.
Cool Deal... Buy a Used Celeb for $100 and sell for $600...
That is why they always mention minor play-wear and such...
They were like that when he got them, before he set them up.
Man! I gotta get in on that!
[I buy guitars, clean them up, then sell them for less than I paid for them... :( :p :cool: ] |
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Just curious...